Once again this year, our district will be offering summer reading for students! There will also be an opportunity for students to receive free books at these programs. Plan to stop by one of these locations this summer! 

Each location will be open from 11:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. 

Schools

• June 9 - Roan School
• June 16 - Blue Ridge School
• June 23 - Brookwood School
• June 30 - Park Creek School
• July 14 - City Park School
• July 21 - Westwood School

​​​​​​​Community Locations

• June 7 - Mack Gaston Community Center
• June 14 - Dalton Recreation Department
• June 21 - Civitan Park
• June 28 - Lakeshore Park
• July 12 - Al Rollins Park
• July 19 - Mack Gaston Community Center

Summer School 2022

Where: The former Morris Innovative High School Building at Fort Hill

When: June 6 - July 14 (Mondays - Thursdays)

Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Cost: $100 per Credit ($75 per .5 Credit)

Holidays: July 4 and 5

Registration for Summer School will take place in the gym at Fort Hill on June 2nd from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. You must be prepared to pay for your first course (cash or check). 

Water Safety Facts

• Swimming pools are the most common site for a drowning to occur for children ages 1 to 4.
• 5,209 children in U.S. will sustain nonfatal near drowning-related injuries this year.
• 89 percent of boating deaths of all ages occurred on boats where the operator had not received boating safety instructions.
• The majority of infant drowning deaths happen in bathtubs or large buckets.
• The use of specially made drain covers, safety vacuum-release systems, multiple filter pumps and other pressure-venting pool filter mechanisms can reduce the risk of entrapment in pools.

Top Tips

• Watch kids when they are in or around water, without being distracted. Keep young children within arm’s reach of an adult.
• Empty all tubs, buckets, containers and kiddie pools immediately after use. Store them upside down so they don’t collect water.
• Close toilet lids and use toilet seat locks to prevent drowning.
• Keep doors to bathrooms and laundry rooms closed.
• Install fences around home pools. A pool fence should surround all sides of the pool and be at least four feet tall with self-closing and self-latching gates.
• Know what to do in an emergency. Learning CPR and basic water rescue skills may help you save a life.

More info at http://safekidsgeorgia.org/

From the State of Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services

Lack of Supervision Guidelines

Frequently Asked Questions

Many individuals have questions regarding at what age children may be left unsupervised. While there are no State laws regarding the supervision of children, DFCS has guidelines which we follow. The guidelines are as follows:

• Children eight years or younger should not be left alone

• Children between the ages of nine years and twelve years, based on level of maturity, may be left alone for brief (less than two hours) periods of time; and,

• Children thirteen years and older, who are at an adequate level of maturity, may be left alone and may perform the role of babysitter, as authorized by the parent, for up to twelve hours.

These guidelines pertain only to children who are not in the Department’s custody. Situations involving children for whom the department has placement responsibility are governed by foster care requirements. There are sometimes circumstances where an unsupervised older child is at risk or where a younger child has the maturity level to be left alone or to care for other children. Some examples are:

• It may not be advisable to leave an older child who has a special condition or disability alone.

• Consideration may be given to a child younger than 13 years, who exhibits strong maturity skills and has participated in a course on babysitting, to be alone or to care for other children. Suggested questions to ask are:

1) Does the child know the emergency plan for the family?

2) Does the child know the parent's phone numbers (work and home)?

3) Can the child demonstrate the plan and recite the numbers?

4) What is the availability of the parent during this time?

5) Are there environmental factors that add further risk to the situation?

6) Are there factors that reduce risk, i.e. supportive/available neighbors?

If you have questions and want to talk to the local Whitfield DFCS Office, please call 706-272-2834. If you suspect child abuse or neglect, please call 855-GA-CHILD.